Hose confining and dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for confining, protecting, dispensing and retrieving flexible hose lines used with lift masts, such as the type mounted upon lift trucks, wherein the apparatus includes an elongated tubular guide having a heavy pulley member vertically movable and guided therein. The hose enters the upper portion of the guide, passes under the pulley member, and extends from the upper end of the guide for communication with movable structure mounted upon the lift maSt. The hose within the guide is completely protected against damage, and the weight of the pulley member imposes a constant biasing force upon the hose, retrieving the hose when the tension therein becomes less than that sufficient to lift the pulley member.

[72] Inventor Keith E. Ramsey Pleasant Lake, Mich.

[21] Appl. No. 804,529

[22] Filed Mar. 5, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee The Knickerbocker Company ,llaclrson, Mich.

[54] HOSE CONFIINING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 214/731, 242/475, l37/355.25 [51] Int. Cl near 9/14 [50] Field 01 Search 214/620,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,318,217 10/1919 Manthey et al. 137/355.25 1,518,881 12/1924 Walker 137/355.25 2,225,859 12/1940 Cox 137/355.25 2,345,338 3/1944 Goldberg..... 137/355.25 2,724,520 11/1955 Overbeck 214/652 3,166,208 1/1965 Quayle 214/701 3,187,989 6/1965 Barta 214/650 SG 3,248,088 4/1966 Benson et al. 254/190 X 3,289,869 12/1966 Hoyt 214/670 3,410,526 11/1968 Gallagher.... 254/190 X 3,391,875 7/1968 Hamrick l37/355.23 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,034 4/1914 Great Britain 254/197 853,882 1111960 Great Britain 214/674 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Raymond B. Johnson Attorney-Beaman & Beaman ABSTRACT: Apparatus for confining, protecting, dispensing and retrieving flexible hose lines used with lift masts, such as the type mounted upon lift trucks, wherein the apparatus includes an elongated tubular guide having a heavy pulley member vertically movable and guided therein. The hose enters the upper portion of the guide, passes under the pulley member, and extends from the upper end of the guide for communication with movable structure mounted upon the lift maSt. The hose within the guide is completely protected against damage, and the weight of the pulley member imposes a constant biasing force upon the hose, retrieving the hose when the tension therein becomes less than that sufficient to lift the pulley member,

PATENTEUUEI I 219?! SHEET NF 2 INVENTOR KEITH E. RAMSEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEnumlzaen 3.612.318 SHEET 2 BF 2 \TNVENTOR KEITH E. RAMSEY ATTORNEYS HOSE CONFINING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to the field of flexible hose confining, dispensing and retrieving devices suitable for use upon lift truck masts.

Lift trucks, of the type employed in industrial manufacturing plants for material handling purposes, usually consist of a mast, which is vertically disposed, and upon which movable mast structure, such as a carriage, is mounted for vertical positioning of a load mounted thereon. The vertically disposed mast may be in several sections, telescopingly interconnected, to permit a substantial vertical displacement of the load. The load may be mounted upon forks, pallets, clamping or gripping devices, or the like. It is common practice to mount hydraulically operated equipment upon the movable portions of the mast for adjustment purposes, or to operate loadgripping mechanism. In such arrangements hydraulic cylinders, are directly mounted upon the movable mast structure and it is necessary to supply these cylinders from flexible hoses mounted upon the lift truck mast. As the mast is operated it is necessary to prevent the mastmounted hoses from becoming pinched or otherwise entangled in the moving mast structure, and it is desirable to employ some type of holding device, dispensing or retrieving mechanism with the hose.

One common type of hose-handling apparatus for lift trucks consists of a self-winding reel, having a spring therein which automatically dispenses and retrieves the hose in accord with the tension imposed upon the hose. This apparatus is expensive and requires a rotatable seal which often becomes a maintenance problem.

Other types of hose handling, dispensing and retrieving apparatus utilize springs, or gravity-operated devices. Of the known prior art, the hose-retrieving mechanism shown in US. Pat. No. 2,724,520 is of the general type of the present invention. However, the apparatus of this invention does not protect and confine the hose, and as the hose pulley member must slide up and down upon a guide the possibility of binding occurring due to the presence of foreign matter upon the guide rod is present. It is not uncommon in the operation of lift trucks to have a portion of the load fall against the mast, and in such an occurrence an unprotected pressurized medium hose can be pinched and ruptured by the load by forcing the hose against the adjacent mast. Such rupturing of a pressure hose is very dangerous, disruptive, and entails a substantial time delay to correct the situation and replace the hose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the invention to provide an inexpensive hose confining, protecting, dispensing and retrieving apparatus for use with lift truck masts wherein the apparatus completely protects the hose directlyassociated therewith, minimizing the opportunity for damage to the hose by the load.

Additionally, it is a purpose of the invention to provide hose dispensing and retrieving apparatus for use with a lift truck mast wherein the structure employed in the practice of the invention is readily available, inexpensive to fabricate and provides dependable operation and is not readily susceptible to malfunctioning due to the presence of dirt or foreign matter within the apparatus.

In the practice of the invention an elongated tubular guide of a transverse rectangular cross section is fixed upon the basic mast component. The guide is disposed upon the fixed mast in a vertical relationship and includes an opening at the upper guide portion whereby a pressurized medium supplying, or exhausting, hose may pass into the guide, pass under a pulley member freely supported and guided within the guide, and may then pass out of the opening in the upper portion of the guide for connection to the movable mast structure upon which the hydraulic expansible motors are mounted.

The pulley member is preferably formed of a high-density material, such as lead, to provide a uniform and constant biasing force upon the hose sufficient to retrieve the hose into the guide upon the tensioning in the hose slackening to a point to produce a force less than that which will lift the pulley member. The hose within the guide is protected from abrasion by means of a pair of idler rollers interposed between the hose and an end wall of the guide adjacent that portion of the hose that is moving within the guide. Thus, the hose is only subjected to a rolling contact within the guide and no excessive abrasion conditions are imposed upon the hose.

The pulley member preferably handles a pair of hoses, and a pair of annular hose-receiving grooves or recesses are defined in the periphery of the member. A radially extending annular rib extends from the periphery of the pulley member intermediate the hose recesses assuring proper guiding of the pulley member within the guide, and maintaining the hoses within the proper recess. Additionally, a hose sheave is mounted above the opening of the guide over which the hose usually passes prior to communicating with the movable mastmounted structure. This sheave is so located as to hold that portion of the hose which moves within the guide away from the guide walls in order to minimize abrasion of the hose.

In that the apparatus of the invention utilizes conventionally available components, manufacture and assembly of the invention is simplified, and the cost of such manufacture is substantially reduced over similar apparatus requiring specially built components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The aforementioned objects and purposes of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational, perspective view of the front and right side of lift truck mast structure mounted upon a lift truck, partially shown, illustrating the carriage in the lowermost position,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed, perspective view of the hose confining, dispensing and retrieving apparatus of the invention, a portion of the guide being cut away for purpose of illustration,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevational, detailed section view taken through the hose-handling apparatus of the invention illustrating the relationship of the components when the pulley member is located in the lower regions of the guide,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the relationship of the components when the majority of the hose has been dispensed from the guide,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detail, elevational section view taken through the pulleymember along Section VI-Vl of FIG. l, and

FIG. 7 is a view of the idler roller assembly used with the hose, a portion of the upper idler roller being sectioned for purpose of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The environment in which the invention is utilized is shown in FIG. 1 wherein a conventional lift truck is generally indicated at 10. The lift truck includes mast structure, generally indicated at 12, mounted upon the front end, and the usual fluid pressure pumps, valves and other equipment employed to operate the mast structure is located upon the lift truck in the well-known manner.

While the inventive concept may be employed with most types of lift truck masts, regardless of the number of telescoping sections, for purpose of illustration a simplified arrangement is shown wherein a single outer mast is indicated at M which telescopingly supports a second inner mast 116, FIG. 2, for vertical displacement upon the mast 114 under the influence of a hydraulic ram 118 located between the vertical uprights constituting the mast 14. A load carriage 20 is mounted upon the mast for movement upon the inner mast 16. The carriage may be raised and lowered by means of chains 22 mounted upon the vertically positionable ram 18, and the carriage includes a pair of load-engaging forks 24. The forks 24 are adjustable toward and away from each other by a pair of hydraulically operated expansible motors or cylinders 26 mounted on the carriage each having a piston connected to a fork. These motors are connected to a pair of lengths of flexible hose 28 communicating with control valves, a pump and other conventional apparatus, not shown, mounted upon the lift truck. By appropriate operation of the control valves the operator is able to make the forks 24 move toward or away from each other to permit accommodation of various types of loads.

The invention is directed to the apparatus for handling the hose 28, and confining, dispensing and retrieving this hose as the mast mechanism is operated through its various cycles.

The basic component of the inventive concept is the guide 30. The guide 30 is preferably formed of a tubular member having a transverse rectangular cross section defined by spaced, parallel, opposed sidewalls 32, and spaced, parallel, end walls 34. The length of the guide 30 will vary in accord with the type of mast with which it is operated. In some instances the length of the guide may be no longer than 12 inches, while in other applications it may be desired to make the guide several feet long, as shown in FIG. 1.

The guide 30 is mounted upon the outer mast 14 by mounting plates 36. In this manner, the guide will be oriented in a vertical manner having an upper portion and a lower portion. Both ends of the guide maybe left open, and the upper end of the guide constitutes an opening 38 whereby the hose may enter and leave the guide. A hose-fitting mounting bracket 40 is affixed to the upper portion of the guide upon the left end wall 34, FIG. 4, and hose fittings 42 are attached to the bracket 40 communicating with an end of hose or pipe 44 which connect to the lift truck mounted valves and pump. The hose fittings 46 mounted upon one end of the hose 28 are connected to the fittings 42 for communication therewith.

A pulley member 48 is located within the guide 30, and this pulley member provides the biasing force for retrieving the hose, pulling the hose into the guide upon the hose tension lessening to a point where it is insufficient to lift the pulley. The pulley 48 is preferably formed of a high-density material, such as lead, whereby it will have a significant weight with respect to its size. The pulley includes a pair of parallel end faces 50 defining the axial length of the pulley, which is slightly less than the distance separating the guide sidewalls 32 whereby the pulley may be freely mounted therebetween, but is not able to cock" within the guide.

The peripheral configuration of the pulley will be best appreciated from FIG. 6. A pair of hose-receiving recesses or grooves 52 are defined in the pulley periphery, and are of a depth only slightly less than the diameter of the hose 28. Intermediate the hose recesses 52 a radially extending rib 54 is defined which radially extends a greater distance than the pulley peripheral portions 56 disposed adjacent the end faces 50. The diameter of the rib 56 is slightly less than the distance separating the guide end walls 34, and in this manner the rib serves to center the pulley between the end walls.

The hose 28 enters the hose guide 30 through the opening 38 to pass under the pulley 48. Each of the hose 28 is received within a pulley recess 52 and upon passing under the pulley 48 the hose extends upwardly up out of the guide through the opening 38 for communication with the cylinders 26 mounted upon the carriage 20.

In the described embodiment a hose sheave 58 is mounted upon the inner mast 16 at the upper region thereof. The sheave 58 includes a pair of hose-receiving grooves whereby the hose 28 may pass thereover and extend downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, when the carriage is at a position lower than that of the upper region of the guide. The hose sheave is mounted upon a bracket 60 which is affixed to the inner mast and thus upon the inner mast being extended upwardly the hose sheave 58 will be removed from its position adjacent the upper end of the guide to a position vertically above, but removed from the guide. Such a condition is illustrated in FIG. 5. The hose 28 normally extends in a downwardly position from the hose sheave, as is the condition when the carriage 20 is in the load pickup position, or within its free lift phase.

In order to prevent abrasion of the hose 28 within the guide 30 a pair of idler rollers 62 and 64 are mounted within the guide interposed between the movable portion of the hose and the adjacent guide end wall 34, this end wall being the right end wall as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. The idler rollers are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. These rollers are cylindrical, each having a central bore 66. A U-shaped wire connecting member 68 connects the rollers to maintain the spacing therebetween, and the end portions 70 of the wire connector are received within bores 66 to constitute the axles for the rollers. The overall width of the idler roller and connector assembly is less than the width separating the guide sidewalls 32 as is apparent in FIG. 2. Thus, the idler roller and idler roller assembly is capable of moving vertically within the guide.

The idler roller rollers are so located within the guide that the lower roller 64 will be disposed below the axis of rotation of the pulley 48, while the upper roller 62 is disposed above the pulley axis. The connector 68 has a bend formed therein whereby the connector may pass between one of the pulley peripheral portions 56 and the guide end wall without interfering with the operation of the pulley. This clearance for the connector is assured by the presence of the pulley rib 54.

Both of the rollers 62 and 64 preferably simultaneously engage the hose 28 and the adjacent guide end wall 34. As the pulley is raised and lowered in the guide the contact with the hose will cause the rollers to roll up and down upon the associated guide end wall with a rolling contact. Simultaneously, a rolling contact with the hose is maintained which will prevent abrasion and hold the hose away from wall 34. Also, the rollers assure that the hose will be received within the appropriate pulley recess 52, as the pulley lowers, and the hoses are fed thereon. The linear rate of movement of the movable portion of the hose within the guide, i.e., that portion of the hose between the pulley 48 and the hose sheave '58, will be twice that of the vertical movement of the pulley, but because of the hose rollers abrasion of the hose will be prevented. It is also to be noted that the bracket 60 so positions the hose sheave 58 that the hose between the sheave and the pulley 48 extends away from the right guide end wall 34, FIG. 4, such that the movable portion of the hose is obliquely related to the end wall, rather than being parallel thereto. Of course, in that no vertical displacement occurs between the hose portion between the fittings 46 and the pulley 48, no significant wear occurs in this region of the hose for which provision must be made to prevent abrasion.

The weight of the pulley 48 maintains a constant downward biasing force upon the hose 28. However, this biasing force is not of such a great extent as to harm or overstress the hose, and the tension in the hose will be determined by the weight of the pulley. When the carriage 20 is at its lowermost position, as in FIG. 1, the pulley 48 will be located within the upper regions of the guide 30. As the carriage moves upwardly upon the mast 12 toward a horizontal level corresponding to the guide opening 38, the pulley is lowered within the guide and the hose retrieved into the guide. Upon extension of the inner mast 16 the pulley 48 will move towards its upper position, as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the carriage 20 will be located above the guide opening 38, as will the hose sheave 58.

As the excess portion of the hose will always be maintained within the guide 30 this portion of the hose is protected from damage, and no coils, loops or other loose" hose portions will occur in the hose system. As the pulley 48 is freely floating, it is not susceptible to being rendered inoperative by foreign matter to the extent that a member sliding upon a guide rod, and as gravitational force provides the biasing action the need for springs, hydraulic cylinders, or the like, is completely eliminated.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concept may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by the scope of the following claims:

1. A hose confining and dispensing apparatus for lift masts comprising, in combination, a first vertically disposed elongated mast, movable mast structure mounted on said first mast for vertical movement thereon, pressurized medium operated means mounted on said movable mast structure, power means mounted upon said first mast and connected to said mast structure for moving said mast structure relative to said first mast, an elongated tubular guide fixedly mounted upon said first mast and having a longitudinal length extending substantially parallel to the length of said first mast, said guide having a rectangular transverse cross sectioniand including an open upper end, parallel spaced inner sidewalls and first and second parallel spaced inner end walls, a weight pulley member within said guide, said weight pulley member having an axis of rotation, a circular periphery concentric to said axis of rotation and of a diameter slightly less than the spacing between said first and second guide end walls and spaced parallel end faces defining the weight pulley member axial length, said end faces being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance separating said guide sidewalls whereby said weight pulley member is closely guided within said guide for vertical movement therein, an annular hose receiving groove defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member, pressurized medium supply means, a flexible hose having a first end connected to said pressurized medium supply means and a second end connected to said pressurized medium operated means, said hose including a looped portion extending into said guide through said open upper end passing under said weight pulley member and received in said hose-receiving groove thereof, a rotatable hose-receiving sheave supported on said first mast above said tubular guide open upper end and including a peripheral portion receiving hose from said tubular guide located intermediate the projection of said guide sidewalls and first and second end walls in the direction of the length of said tubular guide whereby hose extending from said weight pulley member to said sheave is spaced from said second end wall, and a plurality of vertically spaced, roller means interposed between said hose and guide second end wall adjacent said weight pulley member engaging said hose and said second end all thereby preventing engagement of said hose and second end wall.

2. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim ll wherein said pressurized medium supply means is mounted on said first mast adjacent said guide open upper end and adjacent said tubular guide first end wall.

3. in a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim ll wherein said roller means comprise a first roller located above the axis of said weight pulley member and a second roller located below the axis of said weight pulley member, common connector member axle means connecting said first and second rollers wherein the axes thereof are substantially parallel to the axis of said weight pulley member and maintaining a predetermined spacing between said rollers, said connector member axle means and rollers being positioned within said guide by engagement of said rollers with said guide second end wall and with said hose adjacent said weight pulley member.

4. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said connector member axle means comprises a U- shaped element including substantially parallel end portions constituting roller axles interconnected by a base element.

5. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said weight pulley member is formed of lead.

6. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim I, a pair of lengths of hose entering and leaving said guide defining a pair of hose loops within said guide, a pair of annular grooves defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member concentric with said weight pulley member axis, and an annular radially projecting rib defined on the periphery of said weight pulley member intermediate said grooves, said rib definin the maximum diameter of said weight pulley member. 7. A ose confining and dispensing apparatus for lift masts comprising, in combination, a first vertically disposed elongated mast, movable mast structure mounted on said first mast for vertical movement thereon, pressurized medium operated means mounted on said movable mast structure, power means mounted upon said first mast and connected to said mast structure for moving said mast structure relative to said first mast, an elongated tubular guide fixedly mounted upon said first mast and having a longitudinal length extending substantially parallel to the length of said first. mast, said guide having a rectangular transverse cross section and including an open upper end, parallel spaced inner sidewalls and first and second parallel spaced inner end walls, a weight pulley member within said guide, said weight pulley member having an axis of rotation, a circular periphery concentric to said axis of rotation and of a diameter slightly less than the spacing between said first and second guide end walls and spacedparallel end faces defining the weight pulley member axial length, said end faces being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance separating said guide sidewalls whereby said weight pulley member is closely guided within said guide for vertical movement therein, an annular hose-receiving groove defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member, pressurized medium supply means, a flexible hose having a first end connected to said pressurized medium supply means and a second end connected to said pressurized medium operated means, said hose including a looped portion extending into said guide through said open upper end passing under said weight pulley member and received in said hose-receiving groove thereof, said hose looped portion including a portion relatively vertically movable with respect to said guide second end wall extending from said weight pulley member adjacent said guide second end wall upwardly through said guide open upper end, and hose idler roller means interposed between said relatively movable hose loop portion adjacent said weight pulley member and said guide second end wall and engaging said hose and said second end wall thereby preventing engagement of said hose therewith said idler roller means including spaced elements located above and below said weight pulley member axis of rotation. 

1. A hose confining and dispensing apparatus for lift masts comprising, in combination, a first vertically disposed elongated mast, movable mast structure mounted on said first mast for vertical movement thereon, pressurized medium operated means mounted on said movable mast structure, power means mounted upon said first mast and connected to said mast structure for moving said mast structure relative to said first mast, an elongated tubular guide fixedly mounted upon said first mast and having a longitudinal length extending substantially parallel to the length of said first mast, said guide having a rectangular transverse cross section and including an open upper end, parallel spaced inner sidewalls and first and second parallel spaced inner end walls, a weight pulley member within said guide, said weight pulley member having an axis of rotation, a circular periphery concentric to said axis of rotation and of a diameter slightly less than the spacing between said first and second guide end walls and spaced parallel end faces defining the weight pulley member axial length, said end faces being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance separating said guide sidewalls whereby said weight pulley member is closely guided within said guide for vertical movement therein, an annular hose receiving groove defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member, pressurized medium supply means, a flexible hose having a first end connected to said pressurized medium supply means and a second end connected to said pressurized medium operated means, said hose including a loOped portion extending into said guide through said open upper end passing under said weight pulley member and received in said hose-receiving groove thereof, a rotatable hose-receiving sheave supported on said first mast above said tubular guide open upper end and including a peripheral portion receiving hose from said tubular guide located intermediate the projection of said guide sidewalls and first and second end walls in the direction of the length of said tubular guide whereby hose extending from said weight pulley member to said sheave is spaced from said second end wall, and a plurality of vertically spaced, roller means interposed between said hose and guide second end wall adjacent said weight pulley member engaging said hose and said second end all thereby preventing engagement of said hose and second end wall.
 2. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pressurized medium supply means is mounted on said first mast adjacent said guide open upper end and adjacent said tubular guide first end wall.
 3. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said roller means comprise a first roller located above the axis of said weight pulley member and a second roller located below the axis of said weight pulley member, common connector member axle means connecting said first and second rollers wherein the axes thereof are substantially parallel to the axis of said weight pulley member and maintaining a predetermined spacing between said rollers, said connector member axle means and rollers being positioned within said guide by engagement of said rollers with said guide second end wall and with said hose adjacent said weight pulley member.
 4. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said connector member axle means comprises a U-shaped element including substantially parallel end portions constituting roller axles interconnected by a base element.
 5. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said weight pulley member is formed of lead.
 6. In a hose confining and dispensing apparatus as in claim 1, a pair of lengths of hose entering and leaving said guide defining a pair of hose loops within said guide, a pair of annular grooves defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member concentric with said weight pulley member axis, and an annular radially projecting rib defined on the periphery of said weight pulley member intermediate said grooves, said rib defining the maximum diameter of said weight pulley member.
 7. A hose confining and dispensing apparatus for lift masts comprising, in combination, a first vertically disposed elongated mast, movable mast structure mounted on said first mast for vertical movement thereon, pressurized medium operated means mounted on said movable mast structure, power means mounted upon said first mast and connected to said mast structure for moving said mast structure relative to said first mast, an elongated tubular guide fixedly mounted upon said first mast and having a longitudinal length extending substantially parallel to the length of said first mast, said guide having a rectangular transverse cross section and including an open upper end, parallel spaced inner sidewalls and first and second parallel spaced inner end walls, a weight pulley member within said guide, said weight pulley member having an axis of rotation, a circular periphery concentric to said axis of rotation and of a diameter slightly less than the spacing between said first and second guide end walls and spaced-parallel end faces defining the weight pulley member axial length, said end faces being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance separating said guide sidewalls whereby said weight pulley member is closely guided within said guide for vertical movement therein, an annular hose-receiving groove defined in the periphery of said weight pulley member, pressurized medium supply means, a flexible hose having a first end conneCted to said pressurized medium supply means and a second end connected to said pressurized medium operated means, said hose including a looped portion extending into said guide through said open upper end passing under said weight pulley member and received in said hose-receiving groove thereof, said hose looped portion including a portion relatively vertically movable with respect to said guide second end wall extending from said weight pulley member adjacent said guide second end wall upwardly through said guide open upper end, and hose idler roller means interposed between said relatively movable hose loop portion adjacent said weight pulley member and said guide second end wall and engaging said hose and said second end wall thereby preventing engagement of said hose therewith said idler roller means including spaced elements located above and below said weight pulley member axis of rotation. 